Overview
- Ireland will offer the monoclonal antibody nirsevimab in maternity hospitals to all babies born between September 1 and February 28, with doses also available to infants under six months on September 1.
- Nirsevimab provides immediate protection lasting about 150 days and, according to the HSE, is more than 80% effective at preventing RSV-related hospitalisation in infants.
- Last season in Ireland, almost 22,500 infants were immunised with roughly 83% uptake, alongside estimated drops of 57% in emergency presentations, 76% in hospitalisations and 65% in ICU admissions for RSV-related illness.
- Quebec’s first seasonal campaign delivered more than 56,000 doses with nearly 75% coverage of eligible infants, which health officials said exceeded expectations.
- A preliminary Quebec study reported over 80% effectiveness against emergency visits and hospitalisations, estimated more than 1,000 hospitalisations and over 100 ICU admissions averted, and the province plans to relaunch the program by September 30.